Know these diabetes numbers

When you have type 2 diabetes, prediabetes or are looking to prevent the disease, there are some key health numbers to keep an eye on. Understanding what these numbers mean and how you can keep them in check can help you manage or prevent type 2 diabetes, as well as improve other areas of your health.

Blood sugar

Your blood sugar is a measure of how much sugar (or glucose) is in your blood. A hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test measures your average blood sugar over the past three months. The results of this test can be used to help you and your doctor manage your diabetes.

HbA1c results are reported as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the higher your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels have been. 

Blood sugar levels are also used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes. The American Diabetes Association uses these ranges:

Result1	A1C Test	Fasting Blood Sugar Test
Diabetes	6.5% or more	126 mg/dL or more
Prediabetes	5.7-6.4%	100-125 mg/dL
Normal	Less than 5.7%	99 mg/dL or lower

¹Results may differ for gestational diabetes. Talk to your doctor about your results.

Blood pressure

Two out of every three people with diabetes also have high blood pressure. If you have diabetes, you are also at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level can help lower your risk. High blood pressure often doesn’t cause any symptoms, so you might not know if your blood pressure is high.

The best way to check your blood pressure is by using a blood pressure cuff. A blood pressure reading tells you how hard your blood is pushing against your arteries as your heart beats and rests. You can also get a blood pressure reading at your yearly wellness exam with your doctor.

Here are some blood pressure ranges to keep in mind:

• Healthy blood pressure: Lower than 120/80
• Early high blood pressure: Between 120/80 and 140/90
• High blood pressure: Greater than 140/90

Blood cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your liver produces and that is contained in certain foods. Your body needs some cholesterol to build cells and make hormones, but too much cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease and strokes.

The main types of cholesterol are low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides. LDL is considered the “bad” type of cholesterol because it’s the type that causes buildup in arteries. 

People with diabetes can be more likely to have high cholesterol. Blue Cross of Idaho covers cholesterol screening at little or no cost for members.

Here is an example of healthy and high-risk cholesterol levels:

Range	Total	LDL (Bad)	HDL (Good)	Triglycerides
Healthy Level	Less than 200	Less than 100	50 or more	Less than 150
Borderline-High	200 to 239	130 to 159	40 to 50 for men 50 to 60 for women	150 to 199
High Risk	240 or more	160 to 189	Less than 40 for men Less than 50 for women	200 to 499
Very High		190 or more		500 or more

Additional diabetes-related screenings

Diabetes can increase your risk for a few other health problems, so it’s important to get screenings for diabetes-related issues regularly. They include:

• A dilated eye exam. This test checks for diabetic retinopathy, which can cause vision loss and blindness. It can happen when blood vessels and nerves in your eye are damaged over time by high blood sugar.  
• Kidney disease screening. This screening looks for signs of kidney damage that can happen when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in your kidneys. Your kidney health should be checked regularly by doing two simple tests:
  • A urine test: A urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR) test looks for protein in urine
  • A blood test: An estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) test evaluates how well your kidneys are filtering waste

Keep your doctor up to date

Managing diabetes or any other complex, chronic condition can mean that you go to a primary care provider (PCP), plus several specialists to help manage your health. When visiting your PCP, be sure to let them know about any specialist you are seeing, as well as what kinds of treatments you may be following or medications you are taking.
Keeping your PCP up to date will help them have a full picture of your health.  

Don’t have a doctor? We can help.

Blue Cross of Idaho members can find an in-network provider in a few different ways.
Log in to the Blue Cross of Idaho member app and select Find Care to search for care, at home or on the go. You can also log in to your member account at members.bcidaho.com and select Find Care. If you need help, call the Blue Cross of Idaho Customer Service Department at the number on the back of your member ID card.

 

Written by: Blue Cross of Idaho
Posted: December 21, 2022
Updated: June 22, 2026